Kenton County School District

Kenton County School District (KCSD) educates more than 14,000 students across 1.7 million square feet of space. The district continues to make great strides in energy efficiency through committing to ongoing energy management, investing in energy efficient new construction, involving students in energy efficiency initiatives, and adopting new technology. Other school districts from across Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina have modeled their energy programs after KCSD’s successful energy management approach, and many have adopted its E=WISE2 student program. KCSD is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence recognition for its significant commitment to building and operating energy efficient schools and for using ENERGY STAR tools and resources as a central component of its energy program. Key 2014 accomplishments include:

• Building a near net zero school, which costs less to build than the national median at $200 per square foot.
• Realizing more than $1.4 million in avoided energy costs this year, and more than 6.8 million since 2005 by incorporating ENERGY STAR best practices into the district’s behavioral management program.
• Promoting its participation with the ENERGY STAR program on the district’s website, in presentations, at luncheons, and in published materials.
• Providing weekly performance reports and posting ENERGY STAR scores on the website and energy billboards in the schools. KCSD also provides monthly energy reports to the Board of Education.
• Earning ENERGY STAR certification for one more school, bringing the total number of ENERGY STAR certified schools to 12 out of 17 schools in the district.
• Assisting corporations in developing sustainability plans through the district’s internship program. Alex Marquardt, a senior in Kenton County’s Sustainable Energy Technology Engineering Academy, is working with JCPenney and New Energy Technology and using the skills he gained through KCSD’s energy education programs to assist the company in achieving its energy goals through a lighting and HVAC audit project.